My Big Adventure And Why I Hate Bureaucracy

[ducktrapper]

We sold our house on Lake Superior and Helen went back to Wisconsin in May of 2020 to move into the house we were planning to buy and I was going to stick around another month to close things up and then follow at the end of June. Then they closed the border. Remember two weeks to flatten the curve? I spent six months homeless depending on the kindness of friends and family but the border continued to be closed to non essential travel and I was still not allowed to drive down to the US. As I had inadvertently but stupidly overstayed my visa in 2014, I had to apply for a waiver in order to be allowed to cross the border. I had applied for that in November of 2019. Something that normally takes around six months and $930.00. However, due to COVID, USCIS was working from home and this too was delayed. I finally received the waiver at the end of October and I arranged to fly into the US in December as I was told, even with the waiver, the land border was not set up to screen for COVID infections. Driving would have required me to see the CBP agent at the gate at Pigeon River Minnesota, a stop for gas and a pee and a eight and a half hour drive by myself. Instead, I flew (full plane, large airport) to Toronto, cleared customs (no special procedure that I could see), flew to NYC La Guardia (full plane, larger airport), then to Minneapolis (full plane, large airport) and then rented a car and drove 250 miles to Stevens Point. That took 18 hours. 

In the meantime, back in the summer, that -CENSORED- Trump put a hold on green cards. I was >< that close to getting mine. Biden has since lifted that order. More on that later.

So, I had a return flight for after Easter but then Canada changed the rules and imposed a system of isolating passengers with a 3 day stay in "COVID hotels" @ $2000.00 if one flew back into Toronto. I cancelled my flight and planned to drive back. Could not rent a car for a one way trip to Thunder Bay. I did the Canadian Border Service Agency's ARRIVCAN app and followed instructions to drive across the border. You had to make an appointment and have a negative test within 72 hours of crossing (not easy) and have a place to quarantine for 14 days. I did that. A good friend said he had lots to do at his camp and would stay there for the period and I could stay at his place. Win/win! In early May, I took Helen's car and drove to Pigeon River. Not so fast Canuck! Apparently, the test I took, although negative, was not one of the accepted ones and they threatened to fine me $3700.00. Moot point. They would not let me drive the Wisconsin plated car into Canada without importing it. Based on the blue book value, they wanted $800.00. I said it was not staying in Canada and that my wife did not want to export the car nor could I afford to import it. No can do. So I turned around and drove the 430 miles back to our place. Fortunately, the US let me drive back in. Why didn't they do that in the first place? 


Three weeks and another negative (this time an approved) test later Helen drove me to the border and my friend Tom picked me up on our side and I went to my friend Ernie's to quarantine. At the border, the Canadian Border Service Agency gave me two PCR test kits to do during my Q. I did a Zoom test with a nurse on Day One, Purolator picked it up and four days later it came back negative. On Day 8, I did the second test and found out four days later that the lab had screwed it up. Rules say I cannot leave Q without a second negative test. Meanwhile, no one (with any authority) from Switch Health will talk to me. Just phone trees and operators who are very sorry. "It happens," was the response I got. At that point, I had now done 15 days of quarantine and was told it will be 72 hours to get a new test kit to me. Logically, that would mean an extra week of quarantine. I still had no symptoms, of course. Fortunately, my daughter has some influence in the healthcare system and the Thunder Bay District Health Unit accepts the 14 day symptomless quarantine and she arranged for me to go the Regional Hospital and get a test. That was Saturday and I got the negative result on Monday. Same day the new test kit was delivered. I informed Switch Health that 17 days and three negative tests later, I was done with them. So far so good.

So I am back at my daughter's for a while. I can't return to the US until they open the border unless I get my green card. Another problem. Although Biden has rescinded Trump's order, the consulate in Montreal informs me that during the delay of over one year some of my requirements (that I had fulfilled) had expired. I need to get a new criminal background check (my third), another immigration medical (number 2) and re-apply for my visa @$325 USD. Of course, only five doctors in Canada can do an immigration visa medical so I am going to Toronto in a week. Another $1,000.00 or so. The new background check I had done yesterday cost $95.00. Fun and games! That should be the end of it, however. I am to courier all that stuff plus my passport to the consulate in Montreal and then they will issue a green card. No indication of how long that will take. Once I have a green card, the US side will welcome me back with open arms, drive, fly or swim.

The good news is that after much wrangling, we managed to buy the house and as of June 18th own it. We had to rent the place for a year since we could not get a mortgage without me having a green card. The owners were very understanding and the bank finally figured out a way. I'll be 100 when we pay it off! I guess I'm not technically homeless now.

Most peculiar mama ... strange days indeed! Now you know why I can't afford a new Forum guitar and why I hate bureaucracy on both sides of the 49th parallel. 

[Riverbend]

Holy smokes! Talk about a black hole, I  can't even imagine the frustration. Here's  wishing you some smooth sailing in the days to come.

[ducktrapper]

Holy smokes! Talk about a black hole, I  can't even imagine the frustration. Here's  wishing you some smooth sailing in the days to come.

Thanks. I'm cool. This has been much harder on my poor wife. Once again she is by herself having to do everything without me. I miss the dogs too! 

[Queequeg]

Well, you faced some stiff headwinds and rocky shoals, not to mention the dreaded doldrums, duck.
Wishing you fair winds and smooth sailing from here on out.

[ducktrapper]

Well, you faced some stiff headwinds and rocky shoals, not to mention the dreaded doldrums, duck.
Wishing you fair winds and smooth sailing from here on out.

Thanks. It's the stupidity and outright insanity that really bothers me though. Very difficult to chart your way through those as they keep arbitrarily changing the map. 

[Strings4Him]

"The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
― Ronald Reagan


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[ducktrapper]

"The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
― Ronald Reagan


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Believe me no one I've dealt with is here to help. Try phoning USCIS and getting any answers from a human being. They want you to use their website but "Emma" cannot answer my questions. The phone tree sends you round and round and then it hangs up on you. 

[Mikeymac]

The bureaucracy is staggering, maddening, and even unconstitutional in many ways!!! (The amount of money you've had to waste... all to feed the belly of the govt. beast...)

Remember when a person's character (based on their long term behavior/track record) was enough for them to be allowed to move from place to place, get a loan, carry on commerce, etc.? We live in a broken system that works for the elites and criminals, NOT for law abiding average citizens.

Okay - my little rant didn't do any good, but I got it off my chest - and even without swearing!!! (I can't blame you for swearing, Tom - I would be, too!!!)

Welcome back to the US and to the forum, Tom! If it were left up to us around here, you would've gotten right in!

[ducktrapper]

"The only thing that saves us from the bureaucracy is inefficiency. An efficient bureaucracy is the greatest threat to liberty."

― Eugene J. McCarthy

An inefficient bureaucracy will merely drive you crazy?   

[unclrob]

I'll write you a resume telling them I need you here to help me....

[ducktrapper]

I'll write you a resume telling them I need you here to help me....

Thanks. I can do basic setups on Fenders! I found a candy apple red 2007 MIM strat in a pawn shop in Stevens Point WI. Dirtiest guitar I've ever seen. Someone used it as an ashtray or played it while smoking in a closet. The white parts were yellow. $100.00 plus tax. I cleaned it up, ordered a new bridge assembly, put on some strings and did some adjustments and it turned out really well.   

[unclrob]

See proof I need your help.

[teh]

Nice looking pair of dogs too.

[ducktrapper]

Nice looking pair of dogs too.

Thanks. Levon meeting his little sister, at the breeders, for the first time. Looks like he's thinking, "She smells like trouble." He was right.  

[ducktrapper]

See proof I need your help.

[Mikeymac]

Why I Hate Bureaucracy, Part II:

I didn't mention it earlier in this thread, but our family is dealing with a similar situation. My oldest lives in Japan with her husband (who is Chinese--yes, from mainland China) and their two children (and we just learned she's expecting #3 next February).

They haven't been home to the US to see us in two years now because of Covid and it's long term affect on international travel. They simply couldn't come during 2020, but even now, another year later, it's not a sure thing if they come to the US that they can get back into Japan. And if they do go back, like Tom crossing a border, they will have to quarantine for three days in Tokyo near the airport (with two kids stuck in a hotel room? and at significant cost to them?), then they would have to quarantine at home for another 14 days.

And this is all IF they can get back into the country, because they're not Japanese citizens, and the government has been very opaque about what the rules are - and they're constantly changing - the constantly changing rules for the Olympics are evidence of that.

It's been a real bummer - we haven't seen our two grandkids there in person - now 5 and 3 - for two years! It may mean we make another trip to Japan next February after #3 is born so we can see them. And again, we'll see what the rules are then.

We've lost way too many freedoms over the past two years, and we're learning that much of the safety concern is highly suspect and questionable...

...okay, rant over. Just expressing that what Tom has experienced is happening to LOTS of people (which in no way diminishes the hassles and costs he's experienced...).

[ducktrapper]

Why I Hate Bureaucracy, Part II:

I didn't mention it earlier in this thread, but our family is dealing with a similar situation. My oldest lives in Japan with her husband (who is Chinese--yes, from mainland China) and their two children (and we just learned she's expecting #3 next February).

They haven't been home to the US to see us in two years now because of Covid and it's long term affect on international travel. They simply couldn't come during 2020, but even now, another year later, it's not a sure thing if they come to the US that they can get back into Japan. And if they do go back, like Tom crossing a border, they will have to quarantine for three days in Tokyo near the airport (with two kids stuck in a hotel room? and at significant cost to them?), then they would have to quarantine at home for another 14 days.

And this is all IF they can get back into the country, because they're not Japanese citizens, and the government has been very opaque about what the rules are - and they're constantly changing - the constantly changing rules for the Olympics are evidence of that.

It's been a real bummer - we haven't seen our two grandkids there in person - now 5 and 3 - for two years! It may mean we make another trip to Japan next February after #3 is born so we can see them. And again, we'll see what the rules are then.

We've lost way too many freedoms over the past two years, and we're learning that much of the safety concern is highly suspect and questionable...

...okay, rant over. Just expressing that what Tom has experienced is happening to LOTS of people (which in no way diminishes the hassles and costs he's experienced...).

Sorry to hear this. My best friend's son and fiancee are similarly stuck in the Cayman Islands where they both have been employed. Their contracts are up and he would like to bring her to Canada. Except, as well as the immigration difficulties, it's very difficult to leave the island and he doesn't want to leave her there. Only flight out is to Jamaica with more uncertainty once there. Being stuck in paradise for almost two years only sounds like fun. This has been a nightmare on so many levels.